Family-Friendly Hotels in Shinagawa, Odaiba & Roppongi: City Stays by the Bay

When you start looking for a family hotel in Shinagawa, Odaiba, or Roppongi, it is not always obvious what to judge them on. In this part of Tokyo, two things shape how the trip feels: how far you have to walk with a small child, and how comfortable the hotel itself is to spend time in. What makes this stretch of the city unusual is that you get waterfront scenery, large parks, and a deep lineup of full-service hotels while still being right in central Tokyo.

The character of each neighborhood is quite different. Shinagawa and Takanawa are built around a major terminal station, so arrivals and departures are easy even when you are traveling with a lot of luggage. Odaiba and Ariake sit on the bay, with waterfront promenades and large shopping complexes linked by flat, stroller-friendly paths. Akasaka, Roppongi, and Toranomon have a reputation as grown-up neighborhoods, but much of what you would do there happens indoors, which is reassuring with children when the weather turns.

The biggest question when choosing a hotel here is how much time you will be able to rest in the room. Sightseeing in central Tokyo means a lot of moving around and a lot of stimulation, and with babies and toddlers the days go better if you plan to return to the room once in the afternoon. Of the 26 hotels listed in this area, 23 lend baby cribs and 13 lend bed rails, so most of them are equipped for the bedtime routine. Japanese-style and Japanese-Western rooms with tatami mat floors, where children can sprawl on the floor, are more limited at 7 hotels, but a few properties do have them, including Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa and The Prince Park Tower Tokyo.

Meals are another area where big-city hotels give you options. Allergy accommodations are available at 12 hotels, 6 have private or semi-private dining rooms where you can eat without worrying about the people around you, and 9 serve meals in the guest room. Toddler menus are offered at 6 hotels, and some, such as ANA InterContinental Tokyo by IHG, provide both a toddler menu and in-room dining. If your family prefers to cook and keep to your own routine, 6 hotels have a kitchenette or allow self-catering.

Whether there is something to do inside the hotel matters here, too. Shallow kids' pools are found at 7 hotels, kids' programs and hands-on activities at 6, and childcare or babysitting at 7. Nursing rooms or formula preparation spaces are available at 5 hotels, and Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa and The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo combine all three: a pool, a nursing space, and childcare.